Madam R. K. Roja
Roja at an interview with Sakshi TV in 2017
Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement Government of Andhra Pradesh
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 April 2022
Governor	Biswabhusan Harichandan S. Abdul Nazeer
Chief Minister	Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
Preceded by	Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao
Chairperson of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation
In office 15 July 2019 – 17 July 2021
Succeeded by	Mettu Govinda Reddy
1st President of YSRCP Women's Wing
In office 2015–2021
YSRCP President	Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
Preceded by	Office Established
Succeeded by	Pothula Sunitha
Member of Legislative Assembly Andhra Pradesh
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 June 2014
Preceded by	Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu
Constituency	Nagari
3rd President of Telugu Mahila United Andhra Pradesh
In office 1999–2009
TDP President	N. Chandrababu Naidu
Preceded by	Nannapaneni Rajakumari
Succeeded by	Shobha Haymavathi
Personal details
Born	Sri Latha Reddy[1] (1972-11-17) 17 November 1972 (age 51) Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
Political party	Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (2011 - present)
Other political affiliations	Telugu Desam Party (1998 - 2009) Indian National Congress (2009 - 2011)[2]
Spouse	R. K. Selvamani ​ (m. 2002)​ [3]
Children	2
Occupation	Actress politician
Awards	Nandi Awards Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress Cinema Express Awards

Roja Selvamani (born Sri Latha Reddy; 17 November 1972), is an Indian politician and former actress.^[4] She is currently serving as Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement of Andhra Pradesh. She was a leading actress in Tamil and Telugu films from 1991 to 2002. She has also acted in a few Kannada and Malayalam-language films.^[5] She won three Nandi Awards and one Tamil Nadu State Film Award. In 2022, Roja announced she would be leaving the film industry to focus on her political career. She also announced that she will no longer be acting in any films.^[6]

Early life

Roja was born as Sri Latha Reddy on 17 November 1972 to Nagaraja Reddy and Lalitha in Tirupati, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh. She has two brothers, Kumaraswamy Reddy and Ramaprasad Reddy.^[7] Later, the family moved to Hyderabad. She got her bachelor's degree in Political Science from Sri Padmavathi Women's University, Tirupati. Roja learnt Kuchipudi and was performing in dance before she entered films.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Film career

Roja entered the film industry with Telugu film Prema Thapassu with Rajendra Prasad. The entire movie was shot in Tirupati.

She was introduced to the Tamil film industry by director R. K. Selvamani with Chembaruthi, along with actor Prashanth. The movie was a hit and paved way for role in another success, Suriyan with Sarath Kumar. Both the films established her in Tamil cinema.^[8] She became known for songs such as "Meloor Maman" in the film Makkal Aatchi with Mammootty and "Mastana Mastana" in Raasaiyya with Prabhu Deva. Her performance in films with actors such as Rajinikanth in Veera, Arjun Sarja in Ayudha Poojai and Prabhu in Thirupathi Ezhumalai Venkatesa were praised. Roja's major career breakthrough was in the film Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen, directed by Vikraman. In Telugu, she appeared in successful movies like Mutha Mestri, Mugguru Monagallu, Bhairava Dweepam, Bobbili Simham, Annamayya, Anna, Peddannayya, Kshemamga Velli Labhamga Randi, Subhalagnam, Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam and Kalavida. Her 100th movie was Pottu Amman. Roja later appeared in supporting roles in films like Arasu (2003), Parijatham (2006), Shambo Shiva Shambo (2010), Golimar (2010), Mogudu (2011), Kodipunju (2011), Veera (2011), Kaavalan (2011) and Saguni (2012).

Political career

Roja joined Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1998 and was the president of the Telugu Mahila wing of the Party.^[9] In the 2004 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, she contested from the Nagari assembly constituency but did not emerge victorious. In 2009 Indian general election, Roja ran for the Chandragiri Assembly constituency but faced another defeat, this time against Aruna Kumari Galla. In the same year she left TDP and joined the Indian National Congress, which was led by Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy at the time.^[10] Following the unfortunate passing of Rajasekhara Reddy, his son, Jagan Mohan Reddy, decided to part ways with the Congress and established the YSR Congress Party.^[11] In response to these developments, Roja made the decision to leave the Congress and joined the YSRCP. In 2014 assembly elections, she won as an MLA from Nagari assembly constituency. She contested once again from Nagari in 2019 assembly election and won the seat again. In 2020, she assumed the role of Chairperson of APIIC. Then, in 2022 she was appointed as the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Youth Advancement portfolio.^[12]

Despite Roja being an active speaker among women MLAs, she was suspended from attending the legislative assembly for one year.^[13][14] The decision was taken by majority in the legislative house, on 18 December 2015, and by the approval of the Speaker.^[13][14] Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, leader of the opposition, opposed the suspension. There were several concerns on the procedure followed while suspending Roja. Such doubts made the opposition to move no-trust motion against the speaker.^[15] An issue was raised by the opposition party on how the media clipping, property of the house, released and published on social media without the speaker's approval and the speaker also noted their concern and set up an inquiry to probe the issue further and submit a report by next meeting.^[16]

Electoral history

Other work

Roja was the anchor of a show named Modern Mahalakshmi before getting replaced by Anasuya. This show was telecast on MAA TV.^[17] She is one of the judges for the comedy shows Jabardasth and Extra Jabardasth. These shows are telecast on ETV.^[18] She hosted one show for Zee Tamizh called lucka kicka, which was a huge hit in Tamil Nadu.^[19]

Personal life

Roja married Tamil film director R. K. Selvamani on 21 August 2002.^[20] The couple has a daughter and a son.^[21]

Roja had a penchant for hairdressing and it was evident as whenever she was on the sets she was seen hairdressing her peers like Devayani, Khushbu, Ranjitha and Mumtaz to name a few.^{[citation needed]} According to Ramya Krishna, her friend and co-star, Roja is one of the few artists who can do their makeup themselves.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Tamil cinema

Telugu cinema

Kannada cinema

Malayalam cinema

Television

Political statistics

Awards

Nandi Awards^[26]

• Special Jury Award – Sarpayagam (1991)^[27]
• Best Supporting Actress – Anna (1994)^[28]
• Best Actress – Swarnakka (1998)^[27]

Tamil Nadu State Film Awards

• 1998 – Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Actress – Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen^[29][23]

Cinema Express Awards

• 1998 – Cinema Express Award for Best Actress – Tamil – Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen^[30]

Filmfare Award South

• 2010 – Nominated – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress – Telugu – Golimaar